Click on the chapter title to read this Chapter.

Historical Account of Gibraltar.        

Description of the Garrison.  

Communication between Gibraltar and Spain interrupted.—Strength of the Garrison at that period.—A Spanish squadron appears off the Garrison.—Intelligence first received by the Garrison of hostilities having commenced between Great Britain and Spain.—The British Admiral miscarries in an attempt to intercept a Spanish convoy laden with provisions.—Spaniards blockade Gibraltar by sea.— Mr. Logie, the British Consul in Barbary, narrowly escapes being taken in his return to Tangier.—General Eliott orders the Garrison to mount guard with their hair unpowdered.—Spaniards encamp before Gibraltar.—Spirited conduct of the Captain of a Swedish frigate.—General Eliott appoints his staffofficers.—Inhabitants begin to leave the Garrison.—Governor permits those inhabitants who remain, to erect sheds at the southward.—Spaniards reinforce their camp, and are very active in their lines.—General Eliott opens his batteries on their workmen.—Small shells recommended to be fired out of guns.—Engineers complete a battery on the summit of the Northern front—Spaniards open embrasures in their lines for thirtyfive guns.—The Peace and Plenty, British privateer, run ashore, and burnt—Anecdote of the Governor.—Blockade of the Port suspended, by the noble behaviour of Captain Fagg, in the Buck cutter privateer.—Description of the Straits of Gibraltar, with the opinions of different writers on the phenomenon of the current—Anecdote of a Moor.—Blockade renewed.—Seasonable supply of firewood.—Inhabitants greatly distressed.—Price of Provisions.—Curious mode of rearing chickens.—Spaniards fire upon a funeralparty of the Garrison.—Spaniards fire upon the town, and wound a woman.— Troops curtailed in their allowance of provisions.—Garrison receive information of a relief.—Admiral Sir George Rodney, with the British fleet arrives, after defeating a Spanish squadron, and capturing the Admiral Don Juan de Langara, with four sail of the line. —Description of Tetuan, in Barbary—Anecdote of His Royal Highness PRTNCB WILLIAM HENRY.—Garrison reinforced by the 2d battalion of the 73d regiment.—Spaniards much distressed by the presence of the British fleet—Description of Ceuta in Barbary.— Don Langara returns on his parole into Spain, and Admiral Rodney quits the Mediterannean           

Spaniards renew the blockade of Gibraltar.—General Eliott proportions the provisions to the Garrison.—Dishonourable conduct of the Spaniards in detaining the British prisoners.—Mode adopted by the Spaniards for recruiting their army.—Spaniards fail in an attempt to destroy the British men of war and transports, by nine fireships.—Spaniards first fire upon the Garrison from their gunboats. Description of a gunboat.—Provisions again extremely scarce in the Garrison.—Spaniards break ground in advance from their lines.— Scurvy prevalent—Troops relieved by the fortunate arrival of a ship laden with lemons, &c—Mode of using the vegetable acid.—Parlies by land between the Garrison and the Enemy suspended.—Supplies from Barbary effectually cut off.— Garrison send boats to Mahon for provisions.—Spirited action between the Young Sabine, an English privateer, and the Enemy's cruisers—Spaniards begin a communication from their lines to their advanced battery.—Spaniards oblige the Garrison to quit the Gardens on the Neutral ground. —Description of Tangier in Barbary.—The Speedwell, King's cutter, Lieut Gibson, arrives, after a warm engagement with the enemy.—A Spanish deserter discovered to be a Spy.—Mr. Logie, the British Consul* with all the British subjects resident in Barbary, conducted by a flag of truce to the Garrison.—Cause of this event, with the cruel treatment they experienced previous to their dismission. —Officers of the Garrison present a memorial to the Governor, requesting him to represent their situation to the King.—Garrison have intelligence that a fleet had sailed to their relief.—Garrison fail in an attempt to cut out three of the Enemy's fireships,   105

Admiral Darby, with the British Grand Fleet, relieves Gibraltar.— Spanish gunboats in danger of being totally destroyed.—Spaniards bombard Gibraltar.—Singular cessation in their firing; with a corresponding anecdote.—Soldiers very irregular, with a remarkable instance of their wanton extravagance.—Town evacuated.—Troops encamp to the southward.—Town frequently on fire.—Stores in danger.—Enemy's gunboats very troublesome to the fleet.—British Admiral, anxious to quit the Mediterannean, orders the colliers to be run ashore, that they might be unloaded at leisure; and returns to the Westward.—Unfortunate circumstances attending the death of Lieut Cunningham, of the 39th regiment—Garrison further relieved by the arrival of a Convoy ot victuallers, under charge of Captain Curtis, from the Eastward.—Lieut. Lowe, of the 12th re giment, wounded:—singular circumstance attending this casualty.—Anecdote of Lieut Whetham, of the 58th regiment—Uncommon long range and effect of a splinter of shell.—Melancholy cones quences of an attack from the gunboats.—The Flora and Crescent British frigates pass the Garrison in chase of two Dutch frigates.— Anecdote of a soldier.—Inhabitants much alarmed by the frequent attacks of the gunboats.—One of the enemy's magazines blown up.
—Engineers adopt wooden caissons to repair the upper batteries.— Governor fires upon the Spanish Camp from the Oldmole head.— Governor also constructs prames to defend his own Camp from the gunboats.—Engineers repair the Queen's battery at Willis's.—The Spanish Fleet, which afterwards blockaded Mahon, passes the Garrison, from Cadiz; narrow escape of two soldiers of the 58th regiment —Spirited engagement between the Helena sloop of war, and the Enemy's gunboats.—Singular system of firing from the Enemy.—Anecdote of a party of soldiers.—Melancholy fate of an Artilleryman.—Enemy's arrangement of their cruisers to continue the blockade.—Enemy erect additional batteries.—Wonderful recovery of a wounded soldier of the 73d regiment—Major Burke killed.—Gallant behaviour of a working party in repairing Princess Caroline's battery, at Willis's.—The fascinecapping of the Enemy's Eastern Fort burnt down.—Governor directs the noncommissioned officers
to be instructed in applying the tourniquet.—Mutiny prevented on board the Speedwell cutter.—Ensign Stephens, of the 39th regiment, killed.—General Eliott, at the request of the Commandant of Artillery, attempts to destroy the enemy's batteries by a very animated fire, which proves unsuccessful.—Several British  Cutters, laden
with ordnancestores, taken in attempting the Port.—General Elliot projects a sally, which is attended with unparalleled successStrength of the Garrison at this period—Anecdote of the Commandant of the Guard in the St. Carlos's battery,         

Spaniards prepare to reestablish the batteries destroyed by the Sortie. —Anecdot e of the Baron Von Helmstadt—Death of the Baron Von Helmstadt—Mode of using the shiptimber, as adopted by the Engineers, in repairing the damaged batteries.—Gallant behaviour of two Artillerymen.—The Governor pardons another Spy, found on board a Faro boat.—Two cutters (Viper and Lively) appear off die Garrison, and are chaced to the eastward by the enemy.—Governor miscarries in an attempt to destroy the enemy's new batteries— Viper and Lively Cutters anchor under the guns of the Garrison.—Description of a new depressing gun carriage, invented by Lieut. Koehler.— Loss of an Irish brig, laden with provisions.—Spirited conduct of Captain Heington, in the Mercury ordnance ship.—Fortunate arrival of the Vernon store ship; also of a convoy, under charge of the Ceberus and Apollo frigates, with a reinforcement of the 97th regiment—Uncommon effect of a shot.—Singular qualification of quick sight—Enemy complete the batteries destroyed by the sortie, having been four months in reerecting them.—Lieut Whetham, of the 12th regiment, killed.—Garrison have intelligence that the Spaniards had determined on a vigorous attack upon Gibraltar, and that the Duke de Crillon was to command at the siege.—Garrison launch their first gunboat—The first twentyfour hours' cessation in the Enemy's firing for near thirteen months.—The ships which were afterwards converted into battering ships arrive at Algeeiras.—Three English ordnance ships, by a politic manoeuvre, arrive without opposition.—A party of Corsicans offer their services to act as volunteers during the siege.—Engineers begin to mine a gallery, to communicate with a new projected battery, above Farringdon's battery, (Willis's).—Enemy's army reinforced by a numerous convoy full of troops and military stores.—Governor Eliott's laconic speech, when he expected the Duke de Crillon had sent to summon the Garrison.—Death of Brigadier General Stanton.—Garrison launch their last gunboat—Their names, dec.—Unfortunate casualty in practising the firing of redhot shot.—Magazine at Willis's blown up by a shell from the Enemy.—Critical situation of a Spanish xebeque.—Besieging army reinforced by a French detachment. The Duke de Crillon assumes the command of the Combined army, and suspends for a time the cannonade.          

Two French officers discovered reconnoitring.—Imprudent conduct of the Master of an English brig, which was taken at the entrance of the Bay.—Extraordinary instance of great presence of mind in an artilleryman named Hartley.—Singular mode of annoyance adopted by the Garrison artillery.—Engineers open an embrasure in the new gallery, above Farringdon's.—Garrison fire a feudejoie, on being informed of Admiral Rodney's victory over Count de Grasseand the French fleet, in the WestIndies.—More Corsicans arrive in the Garrison.—Garrison receive some intimation of the enemy's plan of attack.—Corsicans formed into an independent corps, commanded by Signor Leonetti, nephew to the celebrated Pascal PaolL—Influenza appears on board the men of war, and communicates with the Garrisson.—The Duke de Crillon, unperceived by the Garrison, commences his additional batteries.—The Count D'Artois and Duke de Bourbon arrive in the Combined Camp, and inspect the preparations of the besiegers.—Letter from the Duke de Crillon to General Eliott, accompanying a present of game and fruit.—General Eliott's answer, accepting the present, but politely declining"any in futureBesiegers batteries, by accident, set on fire; which draws a warm fire from the Garrison, and provokes their artillery to protect them by a temporary cannonade.—The British seamen prepare to encamp at Europa point.—Governor withdraws the prames from the Bay.— Enemy's squadron reinforced by six ships of the line.—Artillery make a new arrangement of the ordnance on the Northern front— Two Frmch men of war join the Spanish squadron, and the batter. ingships remove from Algeziras to the Orangegrove—Lieut General Boyd recommends the immediate use of redhot shot against the enemy's batteries.—General Eliott makes additional arrangements in the Garrison detail, and establishes new alarm posts to the different regiments.—Strength of the Garrison at this period, with the number of workmen employed by the engineers; also the strength of the Garrison guards.—Governor accedes to General Boyd's proposal, by which the enemy's works are considerably deranged.—The Mahon battery is 'totally destroyed, and other works greatly injured,—Narrow escape of two artillery officers.—The Duke de Crillon opens his land batteries.—Navy skuttle the frigates, and the seamen formed into a marine brigade.—Major Lewis, commandant of artillery, wounded.—Combined Grand Fleets of France and Spain arrive in the Bay of Gibraltar.—Recapitulation of the enemy's naval and military force.—Omen of an eagle.—The GRAND ATTACK. —Batteringships destroyed by the irresistible fire of redhot shotAnecdote of General Boyd.—Names of the batteringships.—Mode of heating redhot shot, as practised by the Garrison.—Garrison have intelligence of a relief.—Curiosities collected from the wrecks of the batteringships.—Anecdote of the Count de Rusigniac—Anecdote of an Hanoverian Cadet.—Enemy's small craft disperse.     

Captain Curtis visits the Combined Camp to establish a cartel—The Spanish prisoners taken in the batteringships are exchanged, except the Walloons, who preferred remaining in the Garrison, and were incorporated into the 39th and 58th regiments and Corsican corps.—Enmy advance additional works towards the Garrison—General Eliott dispatches a boat to Leghorn, with official accounts of the destruction of the enemy's batteringships.—Combined Fleets greatly distressed by a sudden hurricane—One ship of the line is driven under our guns, etc—Lord Howe,with the British Fleet, appears in the Straits, but the convoy unfortunately pass the Rock.—Letters to Genera \ Eliott from the British Mini*try.Combined Fleets follow the British Fleet, but avoid an action.—Lord Howe conducts the convoy into the Bay, and landing a reinforcement of two regiments, the 85th and 69th, returns to the westward; the Combined Fleets pursue.—Officers form a Committee in the Garrison to fix a reasonable price upon fresh provisions.—Prices established, contrasted with the sums for which various articles were sold during the blockade.—Enemy renew their attacks with the gunboats.—Enemy begin to ship off their military stores.—Engineers reerect with masonry a considerable flank of the line wall, though exposed to the powerful artillery of the enemy.—Enemy form the chimerical idea of blowing up the north front of the Rock.—Anecdote of a Lieutenant of the Navy.—Mode of annoying the enemy's party under the Rock*—Gun and mortar boats attack the St. Michael and do considerable damage.—Enemy's men of war quit the Bay for the westward, laden with stores.—Strong wind, and distress of the St Michael.—Enemy make another powerful attack on the Garrison with their gun and morta rboats, on Christmas day, and are opposed with great gallantry by Sir Charles Knowles with the gunboats of the Garrison.—General Eliott increases his fire on the Enemy's batteries.—Navy weigh up several guns from the wrecks of the battering ships.—Enemy's gunboats renew their attacks; but one of them is sunk, and others are greatly damaged.—Governor again retaliates on their Camp from the Old mole head.—Enemy make their last attack on the Garrison, with the gunboats.—The Duke de Crillon informs General Eliott that the preliminaries of a General Peace had been signed ; hostilities in consequence cease.—Spaniards withdraw the ordnance from their advanced batteries.—Emperor of Morocco sends a letter with a present of cattle to General Eliott.—Governor has official accounts of the Peace, by the arrival of Sir Roger Curtis in the Thetis frigate.—Interview between General Eliott and the Duke de Crillon.—Governor visits the advanced batteries, and dines with the Duke at San Roque.—Duke de Crillon returns the visit in the Garrison; is surprised at his reception.—His observations, Ac.— Anecdote of the Count de Rusigniac.—The Duke de Crillon quits the Combined Camp, leaving the command to the Marquis de Saya, —Sir Roger Curtis goes on an embassy to the Emperor of Morocco. Preparations for investing the Governor with the Most Honourable Order of the Bath.—General Eliott's speech to the Garrison, on communicating to them the thanks of the King and both Houses of Parliament, for their gallant defence of Gibraltar.—Ceremony of investing his Excellency.—Conclusive Remarks,

General Return of Casualties.
Expenditure of Ammunition. 
Estimate of Price of Provisions.
Proportions of Prize money.